Micrometer caliper assembly



Filed July 1, 1949 JNVENTOR. KENT W. M NAUGHTON WWW? flrrae/m xr Patented Oct. 16, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I MICROMETER CALIPER ASSEMBLY Kent W. McNaughton, Angelica, N. Y. Application July 1, 1949, Serial No. 102,677

3 Claims.

This invention relates to micrometer calipers or gauges, and more particularly to a micrometer caliper assembly having interchangeable frames of different sizes and shapes which may be alternatively connected to a single micrometer head.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide an improved micrometer gauge assembly wherein the same micrometer head can be operatively connected to different frames, and particularly to the diiferent frames of a set of frames of graduated sizes, wherein the frame is adjustably secured to the head so that wear and distortion of the frame can be accurately compensated, the frame is no longer than necessary for the particular work, thereby eliminating the inaccuracies incident to the use of a long anvil in the interchangeable anvil type of gauge, and the graduations on the micrometer can be turned to the position most convenient for easy reading of the micrometer, which includes an improved and simplified head construction, and which is economical to manufacture, since a number of gauges of different sizes can be provided with only a single micrometer head, and which is easy to adjust and use.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the following description and the appended claims in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal side elevation of a micrometer gauge assembly illustrative'of the invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal medial cross-section on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of a union assembly disposed between the frame and the micrometer head of the assembly illustrated in Figure 1, a portion being broken away and shown in crosssection to better illustrate the construction thereof;

Figure 4 is a transverse cross-section on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

With continued reference to the drawing, the improved gauge assembly comprises, in general, a suitable frame, such as the c-shaped frame It) illustrated, a micrometer head II, and a screwthreaded union assembly l2 connecting the head to the frame.

The frame l comprises body portion I3 having at one end the conventional micrometer ,caliper anvil l4 and having at its opposite end an internallv-screw-threaded, substantially cylindrical socket I5. The screw-threads H5 in the socket 15 are of small size and low pitch and are tapered away from the open end of the socket.

The micrometer head ll comprises. an elongated, cylindrical stem I! having micrometer threads l8 intermediate its length and secured at one end to a micrometer-adjusting cylinder I 9 in position such that the cylinder I9 overlaps the stem I! for substantially the entire length of the cylinder and the cylinder is annularly spaced uniformly from the stem. .The head further includes a sleeve 20 having intermediate its length screw-threads 2| which receive the threads IS on the stem l1, and having at one end an outwardly-extending annular flange 22. The sleeve 20 is threaded onto the stem H in position such that the flange 22 is spaced from the adjacent end of the cylinder l9 and the unfianged end of the sleeve is received in the space between the cylinder and the stem, as is clearly illustrated in Figure 2.

With this assembly, when the sleeve 20' is held stationary and the cylinder l9 rotated relative to the sleeve, the stem l1 will also be rotated relative to the sleeve andthreaded longitudinally relative to the latter, so that the end of the stem l1 opposite that to which the cylinder I9 is joined will be moved toward and away from the anvil [4 of the frame when the gauge is inthe assembled condition illustrated in Figure 1.

The union joint 12 comprises a flanged, internally-screw-threaded union nut 23 surrounding the flanged end of the sleeve 20 between the flange 22 and the adjacent end of the cylinder 19 and bearing upon the flange, and anapertured screw-plug 24 operatively interposed between the union nut 23 and the frame socket I5.

The screw-plug 24 has, adjacent one end, an externally-screw-threaded cylindrical portion 25 which receives the union nut 23 and has adjacent its opposite end an externally-screwthreaded, substantiallycylindrical portion 26 of less diameter than theportion 25 and provided with fine screw-threads which are received in the threads of the frame socket l5. Between the portions 25 and 26 the plug has an annular shoulder 21 provided with angularly-spacedapart notches or shallow recesses 28 opening to the side of the shoulder adjacent the reduced plug portion 26 to receive a spanner Wrench for turning the plug relative to the frame 10.

The plug 24 is preferably provided in the reduced portion 26 thereof with singularly-spacedapart, longitudinally-extending slots 29 so that the sections of this reduced portion of the plug between the slots 29 act as resilient fingers to frictionally lock the plug in adjusted position in the socket l5 of the frame I ll.

An individual plug 24 will be provided foreach frame and such a plug will be threaded into the threads l6 of the socket l5 of its associated frame to adjusted position. A spanner wrench is used on the plug 24 for this purpose and for Ill) are at the most convenient position for reading, and the union nut is then tightened finger tight on the plug. This avoids the necessity of adjustment each time the micrometer head is changeclifiom-on'e frame to another, as the tight fit of the plug in the frame socket eliminates the possibility of putting the gauge out of adjustment when changing the head from one frame to another.

A complete set of micrometer calipers may be provided by supplying a set of frames of graduated size with a screw-plug for each frame and a single micrometer head, and any selected frame can be quickly and easily attached to the head by threading the union nut 23 onto the plug associated'with the selected frame. 'If the anvil I4 of a frame wears or the frame is distorted by accident, the micrometer may be readjusted on a standard gauge block. to exact accuracy.

The plug 24' is provided with a longitudinallylongitudinally and rotationally, in the plug.

The invention may be embodied in other specific'forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the

=scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are, therefore, intended to be embraced therein.

Iclaim:

1. A micrometer gauge assembly comprising a micrometer'f'rame having on one end an internallyscrew threaded'sock'et provided with an aperture, a micrometer headincluding a screw threaded stem slidably and rotatably received in the aperture in said socket and an internally screw' threaded sleeve threaded onto said stem and having an external annular flange on the end thereof adjacent said socket, and means detachably connecting said head to said frame comprising a screw plug having a bore therethrough slidably and rotatably receiving said stem and having a first externally screw threaded portion threaded into said socket and a second externally screw threaded portion larger than said first portion and disposed adjacent the flanged 'end of said sleeve, and an internally screw threaded union nut receiving said sleeve at the flanged end of the latter and threaded onto said second screw threaded portion of said screw plug, said union nut having at one end an internal annular flange engaging the external flange on said sleeve at the side of the latter remote from said screw plug to secure said sleeve to said screw plug.

2. A micrometer gauge assembly comprising a micrometer frame having on one end an internally screw threaded socket provided with an aperture, a micrometer head including a screw threaded stem slidably and rotatably received in the" aperture in said socket and an internally screw threaded sleeve threaded onto said stem 5 and having anexternal annular flange on the end thereof adjacent said socket, and means detachably connecting said head to said frame comprising a screw plug having a bore therethrough slidably and rotatably receiving said stem and having a first externally screw threaded portion threaded into said socket and a second externally screw threaded portion larger than said first portion and disposed adjacent the flanged end of said sleeve, and an internally screw threaded union nut receiving said sleeve at the flanged end of the latter and threaded onto said second screw threaded portion of said screw plug, said union nut having at one end an internal annular flange engaging the external flange on said sleeve at the side of the latter remote from said screw plug to secure said sleeve to said screw plug, and said one screw threaded portion of said screw plug being externally tapered in a direction away from said second screw threaded portion and being longitudinally slotted to provide a resilient locking engagement between said screw plug and said socket.

3. A micrometer gauge assembly comprising a micrometer frame having on one end an internally screw threaded socket provided with an aperture, a micrometer head including a screw threaded stem slidably and rotatably received in the aperture in saidv socket and an internally screw threaded sleeve threaded onto said stem and having an external annular flange. on the end thereof adjacent said socket, and means detachably connecting said head to said frame comprising a screw plug having a bore therethrough slidably and rotatably receiving said stem and having a first externally screw threaded portion threaded into said socket and a second externally screw threaded portion larger than said first portion and disposed adjacent the flanged end of said sleeve, and an internally screw threaded union nut receiving said? sleeve at the flanged end of the latter and threaded onto said second screw threaded portion of-psaid screw plug, said union nut having at Oneend' an internal annular flange engaging the external flange on said sleeveat the side of the :latter remote from said screw plug to secure said sleeve to said screw plug, and said one screw threaded portion of said screw plug being externally tapered in a direction away from said second screw threaded portion and being-longitudinally slotted to provide a resilient locking engagement between said screw plug and said socket and said screw plug having an annular wrench engaging portion thereon between said first and said second screw threaded portions.

KENT W. MCNAUGHTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent? UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 279,038 Stillman -June 5, 1883 582,154 Clapp May 4, 1897 923,880 Nielsen June 8, 1909 1,475,066 Gregory -Nov. 20, 1923 2,199,236 Bigwood Apr. 30, 1940 2,488,319 Noel Nov. 15, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 8,731 GreatBritain Dec. 31, 1908 

